Monday, May 12, 2014

J Teams Excel in Blustery Weekend Sailing
(Seattle, WA)- The event chair, Ashley Bell, along with the many
volunteers, did an outstanding job this year. Definitely one of the best
run Race to the Straits ever according to one of the sailors
participating in the race. Ashley is also the current Vice Commodore of
Sloop Tavern Yacht Club (the host of the event); the force behind
bringing the Pink Boat Regatta to Seattle last year raising around
$50,000 for breast cancer research; she’s Founder of the non-profit
charity "Sound Contribution" that will run the Pink Boat Regatta in
Seattle and Bellingham this year and other sailing related benefits in
the future; and she’s a scientist by day!

What is Sloop Tavern YC? Well, to clear up a common misconception, the
club was founded by a group of Sloop Tavern regulars over 30 years ago.
The Sloop Tavern Yacht Club is not affiliated with the Sloop Tavern in
Ballard. Although the owners and employees of the tavern have nothing to
do with the yacht club, they graciously provide room for a trophy case,
event space, and so forth. It also happens to be just a great place to
meet other sailors and have huge "sloop size" beers!

In past years, the STYC Race 2 The Straits has seen its fair share of
next to no wind and ripping currents. This year that was definitely not
the case, with real, honest-to-goodness “fresh to frightening” weather
conditions for the weekend. For many, it was a refreshing break from
past traditions of drifting around. As one sailor observed, “based on
trips up and down Admiralty Inlet the last two weekends, the actual
currents are not exactly obeying what the books and apps are saying they
should be doing. Last weekend there was a 2+ knot differential
predicted flood and actual current, with the ebb running more than an
hour past "slack water" prediction. Plus, two PredictWind models are
currently calling for 10-25 both days. Look for a change in the current
NOAA forecast, NOAA is showing 10-15 both days, Sailflow is lighter, and
PredictWind is showing 15-20+ both days!”

This was the weather report from Bruce Hedrick @ Northwest Yachting:
“Once again it appears the gods are smiling on the Sloop as not only is
there a record turnout of 122 boats, it appears that the wind may
co-operate as well. Regardless, the RTTS is always a hoot because as
they say, “What happens in PT stays in PT!”

Anytime
you race through Admiralty Inlet it’s a challenge because of the
micro-weather systems that can be spawned in the lee of the Olympics
including the infamous convergent zone. Not that we’re likely to see the
CZ this weekend it is still probably valuable to divide the Race into
three segments: 1. Start to Double Bluff, 2. DB to Marrowstone Light, 3.
Marrowstone Light to the finish at PT. The reason is that each of these
segments has unique geographic features that in combination with their
proximity to major bodies of water (Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan
de Fuca can have profound effects on the wind, especially in times of
frontal passage. This becomes even more challenging as we go through the
transition from winter to spring or fall to winter. Then there’s the
tidal current in Admiralty Inlet…

Just about perfect for Saturday, not so much on Sunday but that’s always
the case. Calculations are for Admiralty Inlet off of Bush Pt. We had
gorgeous weather this week now it’s time to pay the piper. We are now
under the influence of a very weak 997mb low off the coast that is
weakening as it moves onshore. The good news is that it is moving slowly
which will keep the wind out of the south all weekend. It’s a little
early to call this however with a weak frontal passage over Saturday
night and Sunday morning, the wind south of Pt No Pt and Kingston will
tend to have a southwest shift to it. Combine that with the fact that
the flood starts first on the west side of the Sound and should tell you
which side to work on Sunday as you beat your way to the finish.”

Hedrick also offered some insight on appropriate tactics for the
sailors: “With so many boats spread out over such a long starting period
this will be a very general discussion. The best part is that with the
reverse start there will be all kinds of wind velocity indicators all
over the course. Sure it’s a short handed race however you really have
to keep your head out of the boat and watch what’s going on around you
especially on the leg from DB to Marrowstone Light.

From the start at Shilshole it will be a rhumbline run to Double Bluff,
with there tending to be more wind and tide to the west particularly as
you get north of Jeff Head. The Double Bluff Buoy can be a challenge
particularly as you get closer to it and if there has been any clearing
or thinning of the cloud cover the wind will lift off of this
cliff-faced bluff as the land on top of the Bluff heats up. With the big
ebb of the day, the velocity of the ebb will increase as you get closer
to the buoy and in combination with the wind velocity dropping if you
haven’t put enough in the bank sometimes getting around the buoy can be a
challenge. Remember also that this is not one of those “soft” race
course marks. Once you clear Double Bluff use as much of the ebb as you
can and sail straight to Marrowstone Light. If you’re not going to make
Marrowstone Light in the ebb, you need to at least get over to that side
of the course. Even though the flood starts first on that side, there
is also a back eddy that runs counter to the flood from the about the
mid-point of the island all the way up to the lighthouse. You have to be
right on the beach, waving at the clams and crabs to take advantage of
this and like so many places in the Sound there are some very large
glacial erratics that live below the water that would just love to have a
bite of fresh lead, so keep the charts handy and know precisely where
you are to avoid one of those nasty bumps.

If it’s light at Marrowstone and the flood has started you need to work
around the Point in the shallows and once you see your SOG improve, go
across the Bay to the finish.

Sunday will be a different story as it will almost certainly be a beat
from the start back to Double Bluff. If you are starting early, get
across to Marrowstone and then hold the long starboard tack to get
across the ebb and over to Whidbey beaches. There are back eddies behind
Lagoon and Bush Point as well as behind Double Bluff so you’re going to
be watching the depth sounder, and SOG as you short tack down the
shore.

After you round Double Bluff it will be time to take the long hitch back
across the Sound to get over to the Pt No Pt shore in anticipation of
the flood starting and the wind clocking from the south to the
south-southwest. Again, you’re going to work the beach almost all the
way to Jeff Head before you tack to starboard for that final long tack
across the Sound to the finish at Shilshole.”

Having said all that, it was clear all weather forecasts and predictions
were off by a fairly significant amount (like a country furlong
amount!). Instead of moderating winds, it blew like hell all weekend
long! As one sailor so aptly described the first day of racing:

“Well, it was a ‘Sailmaker Benefit Day’. Lots of shredded nylon hanging
from masts. The early boats benefited from a more westerly breeze and
were able to rhumb line it to Double Bluff (for the most part). The
breeze filled to the low 20's at that point and most boats had either
finished donating spinnaker parts to the wind or exercised perhaps more
prudent judgment by flying white sails to the finish. The breeze was
nipping at 30 knots toward the end. Somewhat humbling day, but it was a
good party (as usual) and nobody got hurt.”

The report for the second day didn’t change much either, other than the
fact the fleet had to beat back into a light gale! As described, “it
was blowing again from the south between 14-26 knots. The ebb seemed to
be much stronger and later than predictions. The fleet split at
Marrowstone and it appeared that staying west was a gain. One boat
dismasted (Wild Rumpus) and they appear OK. They were being towed to
Seattle by ‘Fast Tango’, who should get bonus points for that. Very
sloppy waves. A lot of retired boats. The fleet split again at Point No
Point and it appears that going east paid. Many boats were still sailing
when the time limit ran out.”

The J/Teams reveled in the heavy winds and choppy waters, eating it up,
sailing fast downwind on the first day and powering to windward like
nobody’s business on Sunday. In fact, the downwind sleigh-ride, many
J’s took just under 3 hours, but doubled that time on the way back.
Taking Class 5 Double-handed were the J/120 HINZITE sailed by Mr James
followed by the renowned J/109 TANTIVY skippered by Stuart Brunell.
These two crushed a gaggle of well-sailed Farr 30s in the conditions.

In the Double-handed Class 6 division, the J/36 MONKEYBONES sailed by
Shawn Dougherty and Jason Andrews took third, just in front of the J/37c
MERRY MAKER helmed by Bill Harter.

Class 7 Double-handed was made up of seven J/105s, what a hoot they
must’ve had! The winner was “Erik” sailing JUBILEE followed by Matt
& Tessa Gardner-Brown aboard DULCINEA. In third was Paul Henderson
& Ramona Barber on DELIRIUM, followed by Bob Blaylock & Mario
Laky on USAWI in fourth and Ian Wesley-Smith on CYRANO in fifth.

Class 9 Double-handed had three J/29’s participating, top of the heap was Paul Hanson’s PLAN R taking third overall.

The Class 11 Double-handed fleet had three J/27s, one J/80 and four
Santa Cruz 27s. Guess who won the battle of the 27’s?! You bet. The
J/27s took first and second overall, with “Dennis” on LXII in first and
Andy Mack on TRUE NORTH in second. Interestingly, while the SC27’s
enjoy a reputation for being a “baby sled” off Santa Cruz, the top J/27
was second to finish on elapsed time, only 72 seconds behind after 2.5
hours of racing downwind! Needless to say, the J/27s powered back
upwind to win by a huge margin. The SC27’s? They motored back home!!